Brad Mangum era begins at Fred T. Foard

November 17, 2011

Stepping into the role of coach at a successful girls program at Fred T. Foard, Brad Mangum attempts to follow in the footsteps of his mentor.

Mangum takes over for Wendy Price, who coached 11 seasons, won 182 games and made the playoffs nine times.

The former South Caldwell assistant under Lady Spartans coach Jeff Parham for seven seasons realizes the programâ€™s prestige at Foard, but wants to build it further.

â€śIâ€™m just thrilled to have the opportunity,â€ť he said. â€śI have a lot of respect for coach Price, what sheâ€™s done and the tradition she built. I hope to take this program to the next level and be a contender year end and year out.â€ť

Mangum said his time spent coaching under Parham prepared him for the girlsâ€™ basketball job at Foard.

â€śHe is very successful,â€ť Mangum said. â€śHe is my mentor. Most everything I know, Iâ€™ve learned from him. Heâ€™s been a big influence in my life in basketball. If it werenâ€™t for him, I wouldnâ€™t be in the position I am right now. I owe him a lot of credit for the opportunity.â€ť

The Lady Tigers finished 14-11 last year, making the 3A playoffs.

Returning from last yearâ€™s fourth-place finishing team are a solid group of players, including juniors Brooke Robinson and Chelsea Turner, as well as sophomore Kayla Whitworth.

â€śWe have tons of potential,â€ť Mangum said. â€śIâ€™m very excited about our possibilities this year. The girls are starting to really buy into the new system. As long as they keep believing in it and working hard, good things will happen.â€ť

â€śHope Danner and Maggie Gettys have been doing really well,â€ť Turner said. â€śMaggie is a sophomore and Hope is a freshman. They are doing really well and stepping up as leaders.â€ť

Mangum said many players have assumed a leadership role with the team.

â€śWe have new people stepping up every day,â€ť he said. â€śOn a daily basis, there isnâ€™t anyone individually stepping up. Itâ€™s different every day. The one good thing is that they are competing with one another. Thatâ€™s ultimately going to make both them and us better.â€ť

Mangum offers more of a personal interaction with his players, something Robinson said she likes..

â€śHe works a lot with us on individual skills,â€ť she said. â€śHeâ€™s worked a lot with me on my post-up play.â€ť

As for goals this season, Mangum says it he isnâ€™t making specific ones, but rather ones in general.

â€śWe donâ€™t have a particular number we are looking for, as far as total wins. As long as he girls just come in, continue working hard and giving us an opportunity to win. Weâ€™ll see where the chips fall and where we are at the end of the year.â€ť